NOVPUBChapter 54: Chapter 6: Preparations
Chapter 54 -6: Preparations
Arriving at the Caucasus, Komer was increasingly assuming the dignity of a lord, at least, that was how Puber viewed his own boss.
His pale cheeks often unintentionally revealed a restrained melancholic air, and those cold, dark eyes, probably inherited from the Reese Family, always gave off a mysterious vibe. His stern expression made him seem unapproachable at any given time; dressed in a properly fitting dark black gold-edged noble robe, whether standing or sitting, he exuded an aura of honorable glory.
Was this really the boss who used to drink and sing heartily with him? Puber shook his head instinctively, perhaps status could change a person, but such external and even temperamental superiority couldn’t change a person’s true heart—Puber firmly believed that.
With an elegant, faint smile, Komer woke from his reverie and, seeing that the three men in the drawing room were all waiting for him, he nodded slightly to express his apology before saying, “I was a bit lost in thought. We’re here today to discuss our next steps, and the situation before us is as follows. Although I, Komer, am nominally the lord of this territory, we all understand what sort of lord I actually am. With a population less than five thousand, at the fair walking from east to west, one can’t even smoke a cigar halfway. If we rely on the current income from this territory, I’m afraid we’d all have to take up part-time farming or hunting. A few days ago, representatives from various industries paid a visit, and I believe everyone has now got a clear picture of who’s really in charge on this patch of land—it’s a concerning situation indeed.”
After pausing, Komer’s gaze circled the faces of the three men before settling once more on Puber’s face, and he said slowly, “Puber, I suppose you have had some gains these past days. Whatever the case, I am the lord of the Caucasus Region, personally appointed by Grand Duke Philip, and no one dares to publicly deny this. On this front, we naturally have an innate advantage incomparable to theirs. These people are by no means invulnerable. Wherever there are people living, there will be conflicts, and where there are conflicts, there will be opportunities we can use. On this point, Puber, you probably have a better understanding than I do.”
Puber felt increasingly unable to see through his boss’s thoughts. He had racked his brains to make some headway on certain fronts, thinking he had some grasp on the situation, yet before he could even share it, his boss had casually pointed it out, which astonished him beyond words.
Seeing that the gaze of Komer and the other two fell on him, Puber hummed in slight dejection, “Boss, if you know all this already, what’s the point of me speaking? You might as well explain it yourself.”
Komer couldn’t help but be amused and, realizing his words had hurt Puber’s pride, he replied with a warm smile, “Puber, you are my Administrative Officer, and these matters are naturally within your responsibilities. Today, the four of us are here together, and I, Komer, have never regarded any of you three as outsiders. Puber and Ilot need no mention, and Fran, although you are nominally a slave I demanded from the Feller Family, I have never treated you and Baoling as slaves. As warriors, you fought until the very last breath; victory or defeat is not your fault. I respect your courage and character. The Caucasus is no paradise, but if we want to succeed here, we must firmly control everything on this land, and these so-called industry representatives and the interests they represent are our primary target!”
Komer’s decisive speech once again shocked the three men, with Fran being awed by Komer’s magnanimity and presence. 𝓃ℴ𝓋𝓹𝓊𝓫.𝒸𝓸𝓂
For a slave, no matter who it is, it’s almost impossible to simply forget their status. Fran once lived in high society, where social hierarchy was like the difference between heaven and hell, with no room for compromise. And yet, Komer was able to say such words, regardless of his motive, Fran had to admit that he couldn’t do the same if he were in Komer’s position.
Puber and Ilot, meanwhile, were stunned by Komer’s sudden display of dominance. They had felt the change in their former friend many times, from being followers of the Thunderhorse Knights to being hunted by Fallen Knights, from the astonishing magic ability he demonstrated to the change in his demeanor with every move. They realized they were increasingly unable to keep up with his transforming image, only able to follow step by step, imitating awkwardly.
Swallowing hard, Puber couldn’t help but suppress the shock and confusion in his heart, refocusing his attention on the crux of the issue, “Uh, indeed, I have made some gains lately. Just as you said, Boss, in the vacuum period before our arrival when there was no lord, the control of the entire Caucasus Region was actually in the hands of those industry representatives who came to visit you the other day. Most of them represent some of the more important industries in Ugru Town. After careful analysis, I’ve identified three particularly representative figures.”
“For instance, Hesse, the head of the Adventurers’ Guild. He was originally a well-known bachelor adventurer in The Kingdom of Nicosia, making a living by treasure hunting and slaying Magical Beasts to obtain their precious parts. Ten years ago he settled here and gradually became a notable figure in Ugru Town by leveraging his reputation built around this area, and then he founded the Caucasus Adventurers’ Guild. Although nominally under the kingdom’s guild, in reality, it has always been independent. Since he has a group of adventurer friends who have long been hunting for treasures and Magical Beasts in this region, his word carries a lot of weight here.”
“Then there is Maximi, the owner of the Blacksmith and Weapon Shop, as the only manufacturer of ironware and weapons in Ugru Town. Owing to the special location and isolation of the Caucasus, many people around here, whether farmers or adventurers, can only get their ironware and weapons through him. Besides, he is good at winning people’s favor and feigning benevolence, which grants him considerable influence here.”
“The last one is Mr. Kudan, the biggest food merchant in the area. However, his stronghold is not in Ugru, but in Mattdam Village, about a hundred and twenty miles away near the Nissai River Estuary. The village has a population of less than five hundred, but this guy lingers there, barely spending time in Ugru except to buy supplies from the Busen Plain. Nonetheless, it seems many people are quite wary of him.”
Puber scratched his head, clearly finding the man’s abnormal behavior incomprehensible. Nevertheless, in just a week’s time, it was indeed too much to ask for him to obtain more detailed intelligence.
“Hmm, what Puber said is correct. As long as we can subdue these three guys, we will be able to stand firmly on our feet in the Caucasus. Though the farmers are the most numerous, they are the easiest to subjugate. Their greatest concern right now is that we will tamper with the taxes on their fields, so controlling them is relatively simple. Those hunters are somewhat stubborn and unruly, but they are scattered, consisting of Beastmen, Mortals, and mixed-bloods of beastmen lineages; they simply can’t unite, which means we can use them to our advantage. The pressing issue now is to figure out the ins and outs of these three guys and strive to settle everything in one fell swoop!”
Komer stood up and waved his hand forcefully, his icy gaze almost congealing in the air.
“My plan is for you, Puber, to continue your duties as an Administrative Officer, replacing me in handling the day-to-day affairs and persistently gathering various types of intelligence. In addition, you must also continue to sort out the population within the territory. Based on my observations and understanding, the actual population of the Caucasus should far exceed five thousand, but why the registered population is less than five thousand is something you need to investigate and clarify.”
“Fran and Baoling, you must accelerate the training of the eight soldiers. They have already been through real combat, which will allow them to improve much faster. Our next step will definitely be to recruit some soldiers to serve as the Lord’s Guard. These eight must become the core of my guard, playing their rightful roles. You may tell them that if they do well, I might cancel their slave status and give them the status of Free Citizens; As for Ilot and me, we need to find a suitable opportunity to probe their true intentions, while also demonstrating our real strength to them!”
The early days of winter finally arrived at Ugru, yet even then, Komer and his companions who had traveled from Cyprus in the north could barely sense the essence of winter here.
Especially for Fran and Baoling from the even more northern Myron Duchy, they felt that the Caucasus’ winter was more like the spring season in the northern regions, warm with a touch of comfort, to the extent that even wearing a lined garment seemed overwhelmingly hot.
Summer training for three hots, winter training for three colds; Fran is an unwavering adherent of training doctrine. Who believes that only soldiers trained through strict and rigorous discipline are qualified. Although he only has eight soldiers under his command, far from his past glory, having been through life-threatening ordeals and the harshest tests, he feels he’s fully capable of facing any hardship or cruel reality, as well as extraordinary honor and joy, without being perturbed.
However, he found himself somewhat attracted by his current master. He remembered a philosopher once said that the charisma of a successful person lies in that, unwittingly, they make those around them full of respect and curiosity. Komer seemed to have successfully done just that, at least in Fran’s case.
Fran found it hard to believe that such a young man could possess such a magnanimous heart and demeanor, and his every move always brought about many surprises.
At the moment, he didn’t want to think too much. He only wanted to strictly fulfill the tasks given by the Lord. At this very moment, he had wholly embraced his new role, that is, to do well as the captain of the Caucasian Guard and train his group of soldiers.
The early morning is always quiet and enchanting, but Komer had to wake up from his meditation. The wasteland behind the Farm had been leveled into plains by Fran and the soldiers, and now served as the training ground for the Lord’s Guard. The continuous shouting from there, rigorous to the point of cruelty, did not at all affect the soldiers’ training zeal.
After Fran announced the Lord’s intentions, both Mortals and Half-Beastmen couldn’t help cheering and shouting excitedly, even the usually reserved Half-Elves couldn’t resist smiling and rejoicing.
Freedom, this is a dream and luxury that every slave yearns for. Originally convinced they could only die of old age in the mines, they never dared to hope for freedom. They could only hope to encounter a kind master. Although they knew the chances were slim, it was fate’s turn of events in the market – a chance opportunity that changed their lives forever.
